Mike Packer

Lead Minister

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am married to my beautiful wife, Jamie, and we have 4 children. We enjoy spending time together as a family. We especially like spending time in the outdoors enjoying the majesty of God’s creation. We have three huskies that are very much part of the family. It is a rare occasion that I turn down a conversation over a cup of coffee.

 

I have had the privilege of serving in ministry for most of my adult life. From 2002 – 2006 I served as the youth minister of Southeast Christian Church. After which, I attended Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri where I received a BA in Christian Ministry. In 2008 God led us to the Oregon coast where I served as the lead minister of Warrenton Christian Church. In 2014 God guided our steps back to Salt Lake City to serve as the lead the minister of Southeast Christian Church.


Contact Mike

Tommy White

Worship Minister

I have been involved in the church my whole life. Being born in raised in Los Angeles prepared me to relate to a variety of people in all walks of life. After several years of attending and pursuing musical endeavors, I obeyed a call on my life to move away from the familiar and attend Bible College in Nebraska. Those 5 years proved to be a time of preparation for the future. I met my wife, Jennifer, and moved into full-time ministry after graduating from Nebraska Christian College (A.A Church Music, 1986; B.S. Pastoral Ministries, 1989). The next 20 years I served in local church ministries in Kansas, Oregon, and Nebraska.

 

In December of 2008, I ended a fruitful ministry as a worship pastor of Kingsway Christian Church in Omaha to lay the groundwork for Impact Campus Ministries in Utah. Currently, the ICM Salt Lake City team serves on the following campuses: University of Utah, Westminster College, and Salt Lake Community College.

 

I am currently the Worship and Prayer Minister at Southeast Christian Church. Serving in these ministries is a privilege.


Jennifer and I have three children: Libby, Sam, and Anna, a grandson, Judah, and a granddaughter, Ellie. As a family, we enjoy getting away for short trips to national parks and hideaways. I enjoy reading novels, watching college football, and just hanging out with my family.


Contact Tommy

Emilie Wallace

Ministry Assistant

treasurer

I was born and raised in small town Carthage, Missouri. In High School I was heavily involved the youth group at First Christian Church. In High School I was involved in FCCLA, FBLA, DECA, Swim Team, and played on multiple softball teams. In 2013, 3 months after graduating High School, my family and I moved to Salt Lake City. I began studying at The Art Institute in Draper and in 2014, I received my Associates Degree in Baking and Pastry. I then worked at a local bakery downtown until February of 2017, when I came to work at Southeast.

 

I now enjoy spending time with my family and our boxer named Luna, traveling, baking, and hanging out in a hammock with a good book.


Contact Emilie

Betty Kahrs

Office Manager

I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After spending my first 23 years in Michigan, I have lived in Oregon (two years), back in Michigan for 18 years, Colorado for 12 years, Wisconsin for 6 years and am now in my 3rd year as a Utah resident. I earned a nursing degree in 1993 and spent nearly 3 decades working as a pediatric nurse, OB/labor and delivery nurse, lactation consultant and manager of a pediatric clinic.


I have 3 children (Andy, Angela, and Katie) and three granddaughters (Harper, Hazel, and Charlie). My husband of 43 years has worked as an educator for nearly 40 years and just retired from being an Associate Professor at Westminster College.


After many years in healthcare, I feel fortunate to play a role in the spiritual well-being of the people in our church and community. I continue to have a love of horses and spend most of my time taking care of my family, especially my three granddaughters.


Contact Betty

John Huey

Worship Ministry Assistant

I was born and raised in the southeastern United States. Though I grew up a part of the church from as far back as I can remember (even baptized when I was 10), it wasn’t until I was over 40 when Christ truly became Lord of my life. I knew that Jesus as Savior, but I didn’t know Jesus as Lord. It wasn’t until I was completely shattered that I truly gave my life over to the Lord.


Officially joining the staff here at Southeast as the part-time Worship Ministry Assistant at the beginning of January 2022, it is a blessing to have the opportunity to serve God in a way which also happens to align with my interest in media production. Though there is still some rust being knocked off each week, it is such a blessing to be using my degree in Media Arts after more than a decade away from the industry.


I thoroughly enjoy studying the Bible and learning more about God and deepening that relationship every chance I get. I spent almost a decade as a stay-at-home dad before landing here in Utah for a fresh start in 2019. After the most trying time in my life, God has helped me begin to heal enough to help others along their journey. I look forward to that opportunity each and every week. 


Contact John

Julie Hessheimer

Children's Director

Lion Academy Director

I was born and raised in Utah and grew up on a small family farm in West Jordan. I come from a blended family of 14 children. I have always been a teacher and in kindergarten I would come home and teach my younger sister all that I had learned. At age 12 I created a dance school for neighborhood children.


I served as a substitute teacher in the Granite School District and worked in Granite School District's Preschool Program. in 1986 I went onto own and operate my own childcare center for 10 years. Most recently I worked as the Director for Mount Olympus Christian Academy. I also work as an instructor for the Office of Child Crew teaching career ladder classes to Child Care teachers.


Currently I am serving as the Children's Director at Southeast Christian Church. I am also the Director of our Preschool, Lion Academy. I am married to my husband, Randy, and enjoy baking and training our belgian malinois.


Contact Julie